Ford's rubber protection aims to stop dinted doors

ERJ staff report (DS)

Cologne, Germany - Door Edge Protector, which debuts in January 2012 on Ford's Focus model, activates as the door is opened. A concealed rubber flap slips into position when the door opens, providing a buffer that prevents damage to paint and body work. It helps your neighbour's car in tight parking spots, but unfortunately, does not prevent damage to your own vehicle caused by other peoples' carelessness.

A special rubber compound is used that can withstand thousands of usage cycles and creates a minimum of noise as it springs into position. The protective flap is quickly and easily removed by heavy users, with a replacement unit simply clipping into place.

Offering maximum protection with minimal impact on weight and without affecting existing mechanisms or side impact performance, the Door Edge Protector retracts in just 60 milliseconds to allow for doors being slammed shut and includes a clutch mechanism that prevents damage if the flap is obstructed when returning.

Ford said car owners in Spain are the most likely to suffer damage to their car doors, Ford research suggests, with 83 per cent reporting scuffs. And even though car-owning families in the UK are statistically the most careful, 53 per cent confess to having scratched or dented their car doors.

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Press release from Ford